25-year-old Go Ha-Jin sits on a pier (in modern day), drinking from a bottle of soju. Somebody had left her in a lot of debt and another woman betrayed her and ran away with him. A homeless man sits nearby, thirstily eyeing her drink. She offers him a drink, which he eagerly snatches. Go Ha-Jin tells him that she just wants to sleep for a thousand years and never wake up. She tells the man about all of her problems and starts to cry, and he replies that you can't change your future unless you died and came back to life. He then settles down to sleep.

A boy falls into the lake, and it is implied that he can't swim. Ha-Jin is about to help him but tells herself that somebody else will come for him. But when nobody does, she reluctantly jumps into the water, attracting the boy's family's attention. The father(?) jumps into his boat and rows toward Go Ha-Jin and the boy. The boy is pulled into the boat and he reaches his hand out to Ha-Jin's but suddenly the solar eclipse happens and a strange force pulls Ha-Jin deep down into the water, and the flashback starts. The flashback is very fast, but it is of two people kissing, Ha-Jin arguing with somebody and them slapping each other, a man breaking up the fight and going on the other woman's side, and an angry crowd of people chasing after Ha-Jin. Ha-Jin sinks as the sun becomes covered and the sky and everything else completely darkens.

Meanwhile, a man with a mask covering half of his face is riding a galloping horse as the sun eclipses. He is carrying a sword and heading towards Goryeo with some other riders. This man is Wang So, fourth prince.

We are then shown the other princes taking their bath. Tenth prince Wang Eun is with fourteenth prince Jung, and they seem to get along very well. Yo, the third prince, looks mischievous and scheming (or maybe that's just his face...). The thirteenth prince is also present. Although his name is Wook, he is called Baek-Ah because the eighth prince's name is also Wook. The eighth prince is also present. The princes talk about how there will be a ritual ceremony, and Wook says that the fourth prince should be there by that time, as it is to clean you of bad spirits. There are many rumors about Prince So killing people viciously, and he is called a "wolf-dog", or to put it simply, a wild animal. Tenth prince, Eun, gets bored of the conversation and leaps into the pool, which is really their bathtub.

Suddenly...Ha-Jin appears, wearing Goryeo-style clothes! Ta-da! She feels relieved to be alive and suddenly notices her surroundings, including the tenth prince. Both of them scream at the same time and Eun yells for the other princes to come. A servant girl behind a bush beckons for Ha-Jin to get out of there, which she does. Wook, confused, whispers, "Hae...Soo?"

The servant girl, whose name is Chae-Ryung, quickly led Ha-Jin away, scolding her and calling her 'Lady'. Ha-Jin is very confused to where she is, why she's there, and why in the world she's being called 'Lady'. Ha-Jin supposes that she's actually died and faints.

Fourth prince, Wang So, finally arrives at Goryeo and an attendant reminds him to keep his adopted last name around the king and to return to Shunju immediately afterward. So replies that he was a hostage, not an adopted son. He grabs his sword and promptly kills his horse, saying that he will not go back.

Finally Ha-Jin wakes up and Lady Hae calls her 'Hae Soo'. She confusedly tells her that her name is Go Ha-Jin. Then she smiles and says, "Ah, right, I died". Chae Ryung is also confused and corrects her, saying that she nearly died. Ha-Jin, even more confused, asks, "I'm not dead?" Shocked, she runs out of the room and looks at her surroundings, where she sees people walking around in traditional clothing. Ha-Jin is very confused and we can infer that she is having a very severe headache. Lady Hae and Chae Ryung also run out and Lady Hae tells Chae Ryung to get the doctor, and she quickly leaves. Ha-Jin grabs Lady Hae, and asks, "Where is this place? No, no. Who am I?" Lady Hae looks concerned and tells Ha-Jin that her name is Hae Soo. Lady Hae is her sixth cousin, Myung Hee. Shocked, Ha-Jin wonders if she's in another person's body. Lady Hae also tells her that she is in Songak, which is the home of prince Wang Wook. The word 'Songak' clicks in Ha-Jin's mind. "Am I in Goryeo right now?"

(Goryeo was one of the parts of Korea long, long ago.)

Lady Hae looks relieved. "Yes, it is that Goryeo." Ha-Jin only looks more shocked now, to learn that the king is Taejo Wang Gon. Her eyes widen, and Lady Hae looks worried again now.

Meanwhile, King Taejo throws a birdcage to the ground in his throneroom? courtroom? in front of some of his best subjects and sons. The bird ate the Crown Prince's breakfast, and it is clearly dead. Apparently it died before it could even swallow the first bite. Luckily, the Crown Prince had skipped his meal as he was not hungry, so he was not harmed. King Taejo orders them to catch the person who attempted to kill the Crown Prince. Minister Wang Shik-ryeom argues that the Crown Prince Moo is not acting like a Crown Prince anyway. He tells the king about a rumor of how Prince Moo has an incurable disease and asks King Taejo to dispose Prince Moo and choose another prince as the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, Prince Moo hears everything, as he is standing outside!

King Taejo asks who will take Prince Moo's place. Eighth prince Wook kneels and begs him to take back his words, as nobody wants to take the place. Baek Ah kneels, then Yo, and finally the rest of the princes (So is not present again). King Taejo asks Astronomer Choi Ji Mong for advice. Choi Ji Mong says that Prince Moo was born under a royal star, and that star is shining brighter every day, which means that Prince Moo is a good Crown Prince. With Choi Ji Mong's advice, King Taejo has no hesitation and declares that at the ceremonial ritual, Crown Prince Moo will chase away the evil spirits.

Third queen Yoo meets with Minister Wang Shik-Ryeom and is surprised to learn that Crown Prince Moo still has his place. A court lady tells Queen Yoo that somebody wishes to see her. That somebody is her own son, So. Annoyed, she turns him away.

At night, Ha-Jin shuts herself in her room and feels confused and afraid. Am I Hae Soo or Go Ha-Jin? Ha-Jin figures that it's fortunate that she has a second chance at life and she should be Soo, if only for now. (Now we will refer to Ha-Jin as Soo.)

Wook is concerned to hear from his wife, Lady Hae, about how Hae Soo seems to have hurt herself and lost her memory. He breaks her door down and comforts her. Wook holds out his hand, which she takes.

There is a flashback to where Queen Yoo is arguing with King Taejo, who is about to get married to his third wife. She makes him decide between his wife and his child, So. As Queen Yoo is about to kill her own son, King Taejo stops her and they struggle with the knife. Eventually, the knife falls to the ground, but there is a cut on So's face, which is why he wears the mask. King Taejo and Choi Ji Mong watch So from a distance, and King Taejo worries and wonders if So will help the Crown Prince or hurt him.

Soo walks around with Chae Ryung, who tries to tell her about herself, as she believes that Soo has had amnesia. Soo pretends that she is starting to remember, but Chae Ryung can tell that there's something wrong with her. She asks Soo if she's pretending to have forgotten everything. Soo asks if "Soo is that kind of girl" and talks about herself in third person, causing Chae Ryung to believe that she really has lost her memory. Soo feels a little depressed when she suddenly realizes that she has a completely different body with no wrinkles on her face and long hair and everything, and becomes a little happier.

Anyway, Choi Ji Mong is working on a project in his...workshop? Flyinig contraptions, telescopes...it's no wonder that the princes race in so excitedly. Ji Mong explains his plane to Prince Eun. Prince Yo asks Ji Mong if the royal star above Prince Moo is even real. Ji Mong laughs and asks why he would lie about such matters. Baek Ah asks what his fortune will be, then. Ji Mong answers that Baek Ah will have luck with females. Prince Eun starts laughing. Jung says that Prince Yo will have luck in governing, Prince Won has luck in wealth, Prince Wook has blessings in intelligence, and Prince Eun has...Jung isn't sure. Prince Eun answers that he has a "younger brother blessing". Prince Jung stands up, calling him little. Prince Eun stands up and is about to argue when he realizes just how much shorter he actually is than Prince Jung.

Choi Ji Mong comments that he feels hurt. They loved his stories, and now they won't trust him anymore. Prince Baek Ah argues that that was when they were young. Ji Mong chuckles and agrees that they are all grown up. Prince Jung widens his eyes and repeats Ji Mong's words to Eun. Eun argues, saying that he's not grown up yet. They joke and laugh until Prince Won wonders aloud where Prince So is. They've heard the rumors and Prince Yo talks about them with hostility, saying that he wouldn't greet somebody like that. Prince Wook gently reminds the others about how Prince So is still a brother, and he arrives. Prince Wook is the only one to greet him while the others hold their breath. Prince So promptly leaves.

Chae Ryung and Soo take a walk and watch Prince Wook and Lady Hae from a distance. Chae Ryung tells Soo that Prince Wook is the best man in the world and that he should have been the first prince. Soo and Chae Ryung note how the pair seem to have a very good and trusting relationship. Soo remembers how he comforted her in her sadness the night before, and how she trusted him. They suddenly make eye contact and he gives her a reassuring look.

A woman with many attendants stop by the two girls. Princess Yeon Hwa says that the situation is disrespectful, and Chae Ryung pushes Soo's back down as she hasn't greeted the princess formally. Princess Yeon Hwa has a friendly smile, but she talks with a very hostile tone, telling Soo that they shouldn't spy on a married couple. Hae Soo observes how the princess has a crooked smile and her hand is clenched. She smiles brightly and says, "If you don't like me, just say so." Princess Yeon Hwa gasps and Soo answers that she can tell just by looking that the princess is just picking on her, trying to find a reason to get her into trouble. Chae Ryung asks for forgiveness, while Soo asks if she's saying that Soo is crazy. Yeon Hwa calls her a wench and Soo is very angry. Prince Wook breaks up the fight.

Prince Wook figures that Soo has forgotten formal greetings also, and she does the modern formal greeting, still a little confused. He asks if she spied on the princes' bath before or after she lost her memory. Soo replies that she doesn't remember. Prince Wook means to help her wishes come true, and she is confused from his kindness. Soo then almost bumps into him and is flustered by their closeness. He tells her that she seems like a totally different person.

So walks through Ji Mong's library, and smirks at some of the book pictures. He asks Ji Mong why he asked for So to come. Ji Mong tells So that somebody tried to poison Prince Moo and tells him to kill the culprit.

Princess Yeon Hwa notices that Soo is awful at making lotus flower shaped lanterns and tells her to do the lowliest job: making glue. After becoming tired, Soo starts stretching and Wook spots her. He teases her and then walks away.

The princes practice their sword ritual and Eun grumpily gives up in the middle. While they eat, Prince Won says that there's a rumor that the king might abdicate his throne to Prince Moo after the ritual. Choi Ji Mong seems alarmed and leaves. Prince Wook scolds Prince Won in bringing the topic up but Prince Yo argues that people are curious about it and they should have the right to know and wonder. After all, Choi Ji Mong didn't exactly deny it.

Soo, exhausted, is laying on the small platform where the pot of glue rests. She quickly gets up and brushes herself off. Soo looks up and sees the astronomer busily walking and gasps with recognition. Choi Ji Mong was the homeless man at the pier at the beginning of the episode.

Soo runs after him, trying not to trip over her skirts. She comes to a road, where she keeps following him. Soo comes to a bridge, where he is out of sight. Suddenly there are shouts and cries about the "wolf-dog", and Soo looks up to see Prince So riding his horse, galloping in the middle of the busy road while everybody ducks and runs to avoid being trampled. Soo gasps and steps back, immediately regretting it as she starts to fall backwards. Very suddenly, Prince So catches her and pulls her onto his horse in the process. Soo stares at him in wonder and confusion, and the episode ends.

Hae Soo was about to fall into the water/ravine when Wang So, fourth prince, saved her by pulling her onto his horse before she fell. She stared at him with wide, shocked eyes. He then dumped her off of the horse. She winces and puts her hand to her back, then glares at him. Soo stops him and asks him how he can throw a person like they're a bag. He smirks and starts to go on, but she stops him. Soo starts yelling at him about how he shouldn't go so fast on such a narrow road. So smirks again and rears the horse up on it's hind legs, then gallops away. Another woman tells Soo that she's lucky to be alive. Chae Ryung rushes towards Soo and tells her that the princess wants to see her

.

The princes and the princess are meeting in a room and are discussing Prince So in a distasteful manner. Suddenly, Prince So appears. Yeon Hwa gives a friendly smile while Prince Yo wears his usual scheming look on his face. Baek Ah, Eun, Won, and Jung nervously greet him. He then sits down on a chair. Prince Yo tells Wook to not "try so hard. He understands the words of animals better than the words of humans". The other princes and princess look down at these words. Prince So calmly gives a witty reply that implies that Prince Yo is an animal.

Soo enters the room shyly and nervously behind Chae Ryung and she hides behind a pillar. Eun notices and asks her if she's the one who was spying on them in the bath. Soo protests otherwise,accidentally crashing a tray of meals out of a servant's hands. With all of the attention and annoyance directed towards her, Soo runs out of the room. Baek Ah says that Soo used to be a well-behaved, careful girl and that she's changed immensely. Yeon Hwa tells Eun that he must have thought wrong, as there was no way for Soo to be in the bathing area, as it's only for royalty.

Eun is still sure that it was her and is now searching for her. Soo quickly ducks out of sight. Eun looks for a place where she could be hiding, and looks through a hole into a closet, watching a servant girl (Chae Ryung) change her clothes. Soo catches him looking. Chae Ryung only sees his eye and screams, and he quickly starts to run away when Soo stops him. They fight and hearing the noise, the princes, princess, and Chae Ryung watch. As a result of the fight, Prince Eun gets a black eye. Soo is about to slap him when So stops her. The fight ends and Soo demands an apology from So also.

So is shocked at her rudeness and tells her that if he apologizes, she'll have to die. He starts to say the words "I'm sorr--" when Soo interrupts, calling "Unni!" to Lady Hae. They go to the prayer tower.

Lady Hae explains to Soo that the prayer towers are there so that mothers can pray for their children, but the one that she is building is for Soo. This reminds Soo of her own mother, which sets off the tears. Even after Lady Hae leaves, Soo sits at the prayer tower, wondering what she is to do.

Soo asks Chae Ryung if she knows the man, who she had recognized as the homeless man on the pier. Soo suggests going to the public bathing area but Chae Ryung tells her to not go near the place where she nearly died.

Astronomer Choi happens to be the man whom Soo is chasing after. At that moment he is examining Prince Eun's eye. Prince Won and Prince Baek Ah poke fun at him, while he scowls at them. Prince Baek Ah tells Eun that Soo wouldn't have touched him if she didn't like him, and Eun cluelessly now believes that Soo is interested in him.

Prince So walks down the hallway and the brothers and the astronomer all start in surprise. He bursts into Queen Yoo's room, who is sitting next to Prince Yo and Prince Jung. There is a slightly awkward silence and Prince Jung tells that So must have been taught martial arts. So answers that he hasn't.

Prince Yo says that there is a rumor about a wolf-dog in Songak, which clearly points to So. They talk a little awkwardly and So says that he feels like a hostage. They discuss this with Prince Yo thinking that So is dramatic by using the word "hostage". Queen Yoo then tells So to leave. He is disappointed and reaches into his cloak to get a hair pin that he got for Queen Yoo, but Jung beats him and presents his own hair pin to her, which she smiles over. Hurt, he leaves the room and finds Prince Won, Prince Baek Ah, and Prince Eun to be eavesdropping. After he leaves, Queen Yoo orders that he be taken out of her sight after the ritual, and to bring in soldiers if necessary. Jung tells a rumor that he heard that says that Queen Yoo made the scar on So's face. Prince Yo then scolds him.

Astronomer Choi stops So and suggests that he take a bath. A servant leaves to draw water for him.

Soo walks to the bathing area alone that night in search of the man, thinking that he may have been a sign for her to have hope. She wants to get out of that place as soon as possible, especially because of the punishment for hitting a prince.

In the bath, So takes off his mask, revealing his scar. We can also see other scars on his back. He suddenly takes a step back as Soo stands up in the water. She gasps and sees So, then freezes. He clamps a hand over the scar and asks her if she saw it. He then grabs her by the throat when she remains frozen. Soo cries for mercy and he tells her to forget him. He then gathers his clothes and mask, fastening them on, and leaves, not noticing when he drops the pin for his mother. Soo picks it up and walks home.

She is surprised to see everybody waiting for her, and Lady Hae scolds her for making the whole family wait. Soo realizes that she's at a home where people care for her and feels touched.

Soo asks Chae Ryung about the fourth prince, and she panicks a little at the mention of him. Chae Ryung says that he is infamous for his cruelty and tells of how he was to kill all the wolves for his adoptive family's entertainment. There is a rumor that he has killed all of the wolves in Shinju. Chae Ryung also says that he kills humans too, especially the people who see the scar on his face. Soo is frightened and thinks that she really did escape death that time.

Queen Yoo bathes alone and thinks about a conversation she’d had with Prince Yo. They've been biding their time for a while, and now they think they should quicken things because of the rumor that the king might give the throne to Crown Prince Moo. The queen says that the upcoming ceremony is their chance for getting rid of Prince Moo, and Yo reassures her that she need not worry.

On the day of the ceremony for rituals, everybody at the palace is busy preparing. Queen Yoo is dressed and wears many delicate and beautiful ornaments saying that she will shine the brightest in the palace today. She is also wearing the golden hairpin that Jung gave her.

Queen Yoo encounters another royal consort in the courtryard, Queen Hwangbo, mother to Wook and Princess Yeon Hwa. With her and the princess is daughter-in-law Lady Hae.

The queens exchange pleasantries, and Queen Yoo invites the princess to visit her for a chat sometime. They maintain smiles until Queen Yoo moves on, at which point Princess Yeonhwa’s face darkens.

The princess dislikes the idea of her mother having to deal with Queen Yoo all alone in the palace, and wishes Wook would bring his mother into the private residence. At that, Lady Hae cautions her to watch her words in the palace.

Queen Hwangbo agrees, and advises her daughter “to forget it all.” The princess asks bitterly, “How can I forget that grudge?”

Queen Hwangbo wonders why Soo wasn’t brought along with her, and Lady Hae replies that Soo has been making many mistakes in the wake of her accident, and she thought it best to leave her behind.

The princes do one last run-through of their sword-dance, and Crown Prince Moo beams in approval. Eun asks Wook if Soo will be there along with Lady Hae, and that question gets him roundly teased by his brothers, who joke about him getting another black eye to match his first. It brings a smile to everyone’s face, even So’s—although the second he sees Wook noticing, the smile fades.

Meanwhile, Yo looks over at a line of black-clad men arriving for their part in the ritual, wearing demon masks.

But Crown Prince Moo is working his counterplay, and secretly exchanges costumes with So.

Meanwhile, Soo and Chae Ryung head out into the city to enjoy the festivities there, admiring the dancing and lights.

At the palace, So takes the lead position as the ceremony begins, though everybody else believes him to be Moo. In this ritual, he plays the part of the leader in driving out the demons from the palace, with princes providing backup.

The performance is a mix of martial arts and dance, and Queen Hwangbo compliments “Moo” for his skilled showing.

Then it’s time for the demon-masked men to join the performance, and So takes them on. Masked Yo joins So as they drive out the demons, reciting an incantation together.

But suddenly, more masked men fly in from above, and immediately the king and Astronomer Choi know that this wasn’t part of the planned ritual. The demons draw their swords to attack So, and Astronomer Choi sounds the call to protect the king.

Soldiers rush the king’s platform to guard him, and by now the princes realize something’s amiss. So—still masked—takes on an army of demons, and Wook is the first to charge into the fray to help. The other princes follow suit, evening the numbers.

At one point Yo exchanges a glance with the demon he’s pretending to fight, then maneuvers their swords and points it at So—to the eye, it would look like an accidental stabbing. The sword slices So’s arm and he goes down, and then a demon swoops in for the kill.

But a masked prince jumps in at the last second and defends So and the demons sense defeat and scatter. Yo orders the soldiers to catch the assassins, and the king hurries to check on his son. The mask comes off, and he’s stunned to see So’s face instead of Moo’s.

Immediately, the king demands to know where Moo is, Moo reveals himself, the king relaxes, and the queen realizes her plot was foiled.

So says he will catch the culprits and runs off alone. Moo grabs his sword to follow, but his father stops him.

So heads into the city streets, spotting the assassins traveling on rooftops, and chases. The pursuit leads him through the city streets, and at one point Soo spots him while taking a break from sight-seeing. Curiosity compels her to follow, even as the chase takes So into the woods.

So catches up with the assassins and engages in a swordfight with one of them. They face off in a fierce clash, while Su wanders into a different area of the woods. There, she happens upon a meeting of the other assassins as they meet with their leader—Prince Yo—and bow before him with heads bowed. And then, at his command, Yo’s guards kill the failed assassins.

Soo stares in horror and quietly retreats, but lets out a tiny gasp… and Yo hears it. When he whirls around, however, she’s gone.

Back to So, who demands to know whom the assassin is working for. He offers a deal to spare the assassin’s life in exchange for the name, and the assassin wavers, uncertain. And just as he starts to lower his sword, Soo comes running up, gasping about the scene she just witnessed. So obviously, the assassin now grabs Soo hostage, and holds his sword to her throat. But So just tells him to go ahead and kill her, to the assassin’s shock. “Or should I do it?” So asks.

He raises his sword and points it at Soo’s face, and as one blade digs into her neck, she begs to be saved. So smirks that one woman means nothing to him and presses the assassin for a name. Once more the assassin wavers, loosening his grip, and So feels victory in his grasp… but Soo sees the blade moving away from her neck and bites the assassin’s hand, shoving him away.

The assassin moves to kill her anyway, and So starts to react, but a dagger flies in and embeds itself in the assassin’s head. It’s Wook, arriving in the nick of time. Except, it’s not good timing for So, who’s just been robbed of answers. He grabs Soo angrily, raging at her for ruining things. His sword presses close to her neck. But Wook holds his sword to So’s neck and tells him to let her go. In one quick move, So whirls to clash swords with Wook, and replies that he won’t. Then the episode ends.

Following the assassination attempt at the palace and the chase through the forest, fourth prince Wang So faces off against his half-brother (and eighth prince) Wook, holding Hae Soo in a threatening grip—she caused him to miss out on vital information about the assassins, and he’s furious. Wook keeps his cool and says that Soo has nothing to do with this matter. She asks So to believe that she merely lost her way, but he says darkly that he has no reason to, since he doesn’t know her. Wook slowly drops his sword to the ground, and reasons that they can find proof of Soo’s guilt once the soldiers arrive. Until they do, Wook asks So to let her go.

So grudgingly lowers his sword and shoves Soo aside, and she hurries to Wook’s side. Wook asks in concern whether she’s okay. Soo stammers that people were killed nearby, and that they were dressed like the dead assassin, wearing similar demon costumes. The princes exchange alarmed looks.

At the palace, Crown Prince Moo is feeling regret, thinking that he shouldn’t have had So take his place in the ceremony. Astronomer Choi tells him that So took this opportunity for himself, so it’s not something Moo should feel guilty about. But Moo replies that using his younger brother’s desperation for his own benefit is a sin.

n the forest, So and Wook lead soldiers to the spot where Soo saw the assassins die—only, now the area’s empty. So asks suspiciously how dead bodies could have disappeared and demands answers of Soo that she doesn’t have, such as who the culprit was. At least Wook finds clues in the surroundings—blood spatters and sword cuts—and he deduces that the same person who mobilized the assassins also killed them. Now So turns his frustration on Wook for killing their last witness, although Wook holds firm and says he couldn’t let harm come to Soo. He suggests taking care of So’s injured arm, but So flings off his hand, shoots a dark glance at Soo, and stalks off.

Soo slumps to the ground, sapped of energy, and then starts to cry. Wook looks increasingly uncomfortable at her tears, while she sobs that So is always threatening to kill her when all she wanted to do was return what he dropped (the hairpin he’d bought his mother). Wook offers a meager pat on the shoulder, but Soo hilariously yanks him down by the cloak, worrying what will happen to her. Wook finds her cute in that moment and holds her closer, soothingly.

The scheming Queen Yoo fumes in her bath, thinking of her failed plot to get rid of Crown Prince Moo. She blames So for ruining everything, and tells her son, third prince Yo, that he was supposed to be named crown prince today. Yo informs his mother that he took care of the loose ends, and that none of the conspirators are alive. The queen says that at least King Taejo won’t be attempting any abdications for the near future; she’ll find some satisfaction in that. Yo suspects that Astronomer Choi has a hand in this, and possibly has a hidden connection to So. The queen realizes So was indeed learning martial arts, but is puzzled as to how—it’s not something his adopted family, the Kang clan, would have enabled.

The queen declares that they must find out who So has been meeting, and thinks that if Astronomer Choi is involved, so might be the king. Yo says that their spy in Shinju has reported that nobody ever came to see So. The queen advises Yo to be even more vigilant, so that they can uncover So’s motivations—then they’ll be able to get rid of him, or make him loyal to their side. “Do not forget,” she tells Yo. “Goryeo must belong to my son.”

Back at Wook’s home, So regards the gash in his arm, and flinches when Princess Yeon Hwa starts to tend to it, despite his initial protest. She asks when he’ll leave Shinju and come live in the capital like the other princes. Despite the fact that this is exactly what he’s fighting to do at the moment, So replies that he’s not like the others, and that he’s comfortable living his life fighting mountain animals.

Princess Yeon Hwa smiles, saying that he’s gotten better at hiding his true feelings. Then she leans closer to wipe his face gently, and he tenses. So abruptly stands up, calling an end to their momentary closeness. But he does tell her, “I did wonder what kind of woman you grew up to be.”

Soo’s neck cut from the assassin’s sword has Lady Hae newly worried, and she asks why Soo went into the forest in the first place. Wook surreptitiously shakes his head at Soo, so she just says she lost her way. Wook says that the assassin had been out for Crown Prince Moo’s life, so they should just be glad that Soo is safe, and Soo agrees wholeheartedly, declaring herself exceedingly lucky. She goes so cutely overboard that Wook can’t hide a smile.

After sending Soo off to rest, Lady Hae thanks her husband for his help, apologizing for always adding to his burdens. Wook assures his wife that he’s never thought of Soo as a burden, even adding that he finds her delightful.

That wording takes her aback, but he explains that theirs is a serious, heavy household, and people are always telling him of their troubles. “But Soo is not like that,” he says. “She struggles to do everything on her own strength, and I find that appearance delightful. I feel like I can breathe. And it makes me look forward to seeing her.” He seems so pleased that Lady Hae is startled, but all she can do is force a smile and say that she’s thankful that he cares for Soo.

On her way back to her room, Soo freezes to see So sitting out in the courtyard, then tries to hurry past him. He orders her to stop, then shoots one look at the maid to get her to leave them alone. Soo starts to blabber nervously, insisting that she didn’t see anything else in the woods, and that she already told him everything. So advances on her slowly, grabbing her face and ordering her to remember more. Wook steps in shoves So’s hand away from Soo with difficulty, but as Soo falls back, she remembers one more detail: The assassins’ leader was wearing fur. Instantly, So recalls that Yo had worn fur during the ritual ceremony, and it looks like Wook comes to the same conclusion. So orders her to erase what she saw in the woods, and Wook concurs, for her own safety.

Soo excuses herself with a surly look at So, but he stops her departure to warns her not to show herself before him again. At that, Soo faces him and asks, “What did I do wrong?” With growing indignation, she points out that he’s the one who threatened to kill her: “Am I supposed to just do nothing? I should do whatever I can to live, and you’re telling me to die like a dog?” She calls after him, “Is it a crime to want to live?” So clenches his jaw, but leaves without a word. Soo watches him go, then blurts, “That jerk!”

Wook sees Soo to her room and advises her to sleep with the candles lit, in case her ordeal gives her nightmares. She asks after his condition, since he killed someone because of her; she worries that he might suffer post-traumatic stress or nightmares.

Wook is surprised that she’d ask, and tells her that it wouldn’t do for him to struggle after every time this happened. She gapes, asking if he’s killed before, then cuts herself off at hearing the tactless question. He answers anyway, explaining that he was eleven when he first took a life, protecting his mother and sister.

“But I didn’t have nightmares,” he says. “I protected my family with my own hands, which made me happy. I was proud.” Tellingly, he almost struggles to say the words, even as he adds that a prince ought to be able to handle that much.

“But you keep remembering,” Soo says. “You can’t forget, so how can the heart be easy? It’s obvious you’re suppressing it.”

He calls that a weight he must endure. Brightening, Soo tells him she won’t be clingy, so he needn’t worry—she won’t add to his burden, so he can live a little more lightly. She says cheerfully, “So you don’t have to worry about me! I can take care of myself.”

He laughs that in place of her lost memory, she’s found blustery overconfidence. Wook also tries to sound out the strange word she’d used, asking what “stress” is.

King Taejo discusses the attempted assassination with So, Crown Prince Moo, and his astronomer. The bold act suggests a mighty power, and their next step is to find clues that may lead them to the culprit.

The king asks So after his injury, and it’s rather heartbreaking to see how startled So is at the small show of concern. He replies that it was not serious, and he tended to it. The king asks why So would take Moo’s place in the ceremony, risking his own life. So answers that fifteen years ago, Moo saved his life—so now, he intends to stay in the city while ferreting out the perpetrator. The king gives his approval, and instructs Astronomer Choi to inform the Shinju family that So’s return will be delayed.

The princes gather again, and talk turns to So’s unexpected martial arts skills. Third prince Yo scoffs that he must have picked it up from battling wild animals, but fourteenth prince Jung thinks that his level of skill indicates proper teaching. Yo counters that So’s adoptive family would never have allowed it when they’re essentially holding him hostage—he’s important politically as a prince, but they’d hardly encourage empowering him when they’d rather have him under their thumb.

Wook asks Yo if he chased any of the culprits last night, watching carefully as Yo replies that he did, but took the wrong path. Both princes are careful with their words as Wook searches for any slips and Yo makes sure he doesn’t make any. The king happens by and stops to greet his sons, but frowns to see the bruise on tenth prince Eun’s face. When Eun nervously mentions a fight, the king is outraged—who would dare lay a hand on royalty?

The next thing we know, Soo is pacing anxiously at home, awaiting the king’s punishment. She alternates between imagining the worst, like getting her limbs cut off, and assuring herself that nothing bad will happen.

Eun comes galloping in, chipper as can be, and announces that his father took one look at his face and ordered the offender flogged. Soo narrows her eyes, supposing he left out all mention of his own wrongdoing, and he retorts that he’s not so small-minded as that. He explains how he finagled forgiveness out of the king—by asking how if a girl who hit a prince were to be punished, what happens to the prince who got hit by a girl?

Eun stops her, intent on saying something else, only to mumble and fidget, suddenly shy. Soo registers his nervous posture and stalling and wonders, “Could it be… that he’s fallen for me? You’re the first woman to treat me like this, that sort of thing?”

Eun finally starts to speak, and says exactly those lines: “You’re the first woman to treat me like that.” Soo marvels at the longevity of that pick-up line.

Eun adds that it was the first time he was able to fight freely, since everyone always just let him hit them—it was never a proper fight. “It was fun,” he declares. Soo wryly tells him to come by when he wants to fight, and he asks excitedly if that means he can visit whenever he wants. She retorts that it’s the least she can do, and he calls after her, “Today’s our first day!”

In the city, thirteenth prince Baek-ah draws scenes of the city from a tavern, then hears a commotion as people run to watch a fight. Not one to miss out, he heads over to get a look.

Baek-ah stands at the edge of the crowd drawing while two men fight, and the younger fighter whirls and kicks with skill, knocking out his older opponent. Aha, it’s Prince Jung, and he roars in victory… just as the two brothers lock eyes. Jung’s not supposed to be out of the palace in street garb (or fighting, at that) and pesters Baek-ah to let this go, making ineffectual grabs for the sketchbook containing pictures of his fight. He tries bargaining first, and then switches to threats of exposing Baek-ah too. Baek-ah argues that his trip is approved, then kicks Jung away. Jung fakes grave pain to draw his brother closer, then runs off floating with Baek-ah’s sketchbook.

Baek-ah pays a visit to Lady Hae, and they reminisce on the good old days, having been quite close. Baek-ah says he blames Wook for not giving his wife more of his heart, while Lady Hae chides him for his familiar address (he uses a term meaning noona). He counters that he knew her as noona before she became his sister-in-law. Baek-ah sees Soo across the yard, where she’s practicing her best sageuk speech. They laugh, and Baek-ah notes how completely Soo has changed. Lady Hae agrees, though she’s pleased with how much more thoughtful Soo is lately. Baek-ah balks when Lady Hae says he and Soo are similar, but she explains that they’re both free at heart, say unexpected things, like fun things, and hate to lose.

She adds that Baek-ah’s real noona is Soo, not herself. He tells her not to say that, his tone turning slightly serious as he adds, “You know how I feel about you.” So and Crown Prince Moo start their investigation with an examination of the dead assassin corpses. They find something alarming in one mouth and confirm that the rest are the same: The tongues have been cut out. They can’t imagine who would cut out their own tongue as a show of fealty, and mull over the mystery. Then Astronomer Choi speculates that it’s possible that the assassins hadn’t cut out their tongues for this purpose, but were already lacking them.

Apparently, there are renounced monks who get their tongues cut out for their sin, and as Choi explains this, So envisions Yo carrying it out. There aren’t people who could harbor so many denounced monks without drawing notice, and Moo orders Astronomer Choi to look into who donated to temples.

The next thing we know, So is charging at Yo and accusing him of being the mastermind. Yo challenges him to show proof, and So reminds him that he killed all his assassins. Yo doesn’t betray much when he’s accused, but when So asks if their mother is behind this, his face freezes and he can’t quite pull off the indifferent act. But So seems to have his answer.

Soo finds Lady Hae preparing clothing and goods to be sent along as donations to the village. Wook customarily delivers them on his own, but Soo suggests that Lady Hae accompany him and take the opportunity to spend the day with him. Lady Hae has never thought to do so, but Soo urges her, and offers to make her up prettily for the occasion.

As Soo makes up Lady Hae’s face, she tells her of a “dream” she had where she sold cosmetics. We see that she’s talking of her modern-day life, when she worked for a cosmetics company, and Soo explains that she felt important and needed when helping her friend look her best. But then, her friend went and met her boyfriend behind her back. Soo sighs about the betrayal, and how they’d stolen everything from her, and still she couldn’t manage to confront them properly about it. Lady Hae advises her to quickly forget nightmares like that, and Soo muses, “Who knows, maybe it was that side that was the bad dream.” When she finishes, she holds up the mirror, and Lady Hae is astonished at her transformation—her formerly pale, wan face looks blooming and healthy.

It’s a family affair in the village, as Soo and Lady Hae join Prince Wook in the alms-giving. Soo hands out treats to the children, then chases down a boy who takes one from someone else and scolds him for his behavior. She sees Wook smiling at her and waves, and without thinking he waves back, before catching himself and awkwardly swatting at the air instead.

A bit later, Wook joins Soo at the apothecary, surprised at her familiarity with medicinal herbs. She says she’s used them to make soap that brightens and beautifies the skin and offers to make some for his wife. He receives medicine for Lady Hae, and also a salve for Soo’s cut. She does such a poor job at dressing her neck cut that Wook takes over, sitting close and brushing her hair aside. There’s a loaded moment as they stare at each other, and another when he leans close to dab at her neck. Soo grows shy and quiet, sitting there looking like she’s doing her best to contain her feelings.

Lady Hae is weak and asleep by the time they arrive home, and Wook carries her to bed while Soo helps settle her in. As they smooth the blankets over her, Wook’s and Soo’s hands touch—just briefly, just their pinky fingers, but it makes them freeze in awareness. Soo is the first to pull back, and she quickly hurries out. Wook finishes tucking his wife into bed and watches her sleep, but his gaze turns toward the door, after Soo.

Soo’s rattled at the touch, and heads to the temple to pray at Lady Hae’s tower of stones. She prays to her mother not to cry over her, because she’s doing well, and then admits, “My heart is wavering. I tell myself I shouldn’t, but… it makes me tremble.”

The next day, So find out that a group of renounced monks are hidden away at a temple hideout, and races there. Moo also makes his way with soldiers in tow, but So arrives way ahead of the rest, finding the temple atop a steep, rocky hillside. Inside, the rundown place seems abandoned, but we’re given the sensation that there are unseen eyes on him. So closes his eyes and concentrates.

Suddenly, a man flies at him. So reacts swiftly, knocking aside the incoming dagger with his sword, whirling to avoid being impaled by a spear. He quickly cuts down the two men who come at him, but in seconds he’s surrounded by more.

So asks for their leader, and when he gets no response, wonders if there’s nobody here capable of speech. One man grunts and charges him, but So slashes his throat readily, and demands to know who’s in charge.

Then a full-scale swordfight breaks out, and So holds his own easily in a crowd of at least twenty. The scene grows bloodier and bloodier, and So displays remarkable dexterity with both the long sword and short dagger. So is so brutal and efficient that in no time, the last man falls.

Bodies litter the ground, with So the last one standing. Suddenly, the doors blow off a nearby building and a monk steps out, bowing to So.

So asks if he is the one responsible here, and the monk replies that these men had their tongues ripped in punishment for their grave sins; he looked after them. So replies, “Then all I have to do is get rid of you.” The monk asks who he’s doing this for, then adds meaningfully, “Does your mother know?”

So smiles dangerously, noting that this is a place of no speech, yet there’s someone here with a lot of words. He raises his sword, hardens his face, and strikes.

The monk deflects his first blow, but So takes him down with a series of quick slashes, and then a blade through the gut. As the man gurgles, So leans in to say, “You’ve lived mooching off the queen, so die for her sake.”

He walks out and staggers away, covered in blood, while the temple burns behind him. When Mu and his soldiers arrive, the building is ablaze. Mu wonders what could have happened and orders his men to retrieve any survivors.

That night, Queen Yoo awakens in bed as a figure approaches—So, carrying the sword that’s still dripping blood. She shrinks back as he steps forward out of the shadows and smiles. And the episode ends.